8/10/2019 How to Practice - Jerry Coker

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HOW TO PRACTICE IMPROVISATIONby JERRY COKERGiven below is an example of a schedule that may help you to organize your practice time. This schedule is based on a seventy-five minute period (1 hr., 15 min.), but it could be changed proportionately to fit a shorter or longer period ormodified to allow time to take up instrumental studies (long tones, dexterity exercises for the fingers, range studies, reading, etc.).A DAILY PRACTICE SCHEDULE:Topic Sequence Minutes Spent1) A SLOW MELODY (tune) 52) SCALES AND PATTERNS 153) PATTERN APPLICATION 104) IMPROVISATION EXERCISE 55) TRANSCRIBED SOLO 156) SPECIAL DISCIPLINES 107) LEARN A TUNE 15TOTAL 75A new set of melodies, patterns, exercises, transcribed solos, disciplines, andtunes should be taken up each week. Such a turnover in materials will help insure a steady rate of progress. Items 3 through 7 should be played with recorded accompaniment. SPECIAL DISCIPLINESrefers to studies aimed at resolving weakness inareas such as playing fast tempos, time-feeling, use of all rhythmic levels, building intensity, or cultivating a melodic sense. The learning of a tune should encompass melody, chord progression, appropriate ingredients, and familiarization

with the most significant recordings of the tune (the listening is done at another time, however).Be sure to check out these books by Jerry Coker:IMPROVISING JAZZ (Order Code: IJ)LISTENING TO JAZZ (Order Code: LJ)PATTERNS FOR JAZZ (Order Code: P-T (Treble) or P-B (Bass))THE COMPLETE METHOD FOR IMPROVISATION (Order Code: C)HOW TO PRACTICE JAZZ (Order Code: PJ)

CLEAR SOLUTIONS FOR THE JAZZ IMPROVISER (Order Code: CSI)THE TEACHING OF JAZZ (Order Code: TJ)KEYS UNLOCKED (Order Code: KU)All of these books are available from Jamey Aebersold Jazz -- visit our websiteat www.jazzbooks.com